In the 1940’s Andrew "Andy" Dufresne (Tim Robbins) was convicted of murdering his wife. He is sentenced at Shawshank State Penitentiary in Maine and has made a new friend in Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding (Morgan Freeman). The 2 discuss things such as prison life, the crimes and management of the prison. Andy learns the ropes inside the prison by being abused by inmates. He then began working for Warden Samuel Norton (Bob Gunton) who heads the prison, because of his knowledge as a banker. The pair of friends meets at Zihuatanejo (beach in Mexico) after Andy has methodically escaped and Red’s ignorance of his parole. Memorable quotes from the picture: Andy – “I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin.“ “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies. I will be hoping that this letter finds you, and finds you well.” Red – “I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged.” “They send you here for life, that's exactly what they take. The part that counts anyways.”

This flick is engaging even from the very opening. It has 2 likable leads; Morgan Freeman does an awe-inspiring job with Red’s persona and Tim Robbins was convincing as an innocent victim unjustly imprisoned. The rest of the casts were effective in displaying the drama. Cinematography, editing, score was majestic and the screenplay exceptional. Even the themes were universal: a person having integrity, or the lack thereof in the form of Warden Norton’s figure. Optimism, a feeling of being confined in the outside world (the hanging of Brooks Hatlen well-acted by James Whitmore) and freedom from within when Andy played the record where Red mentions “was like some beautiful bird flapped into our drab little cage and made these walls dissolve away, and for the briefest of moments, every last man in Shawshank felt free.” Its script can be anybody's motto in life. A great movie does not need any awards (despite its recognition in the Academy Awards for 7 categories), a huge movie star or even expensive and alluring visual effects. The 3 disc UK version is enough to keep you busy and entertained. Sometimes simplicity works best; it did for this cult classic which is always a part of every film related list from critics, institutions and movie fanatics alike. The Shawshank Redemption is a momentous experience that sometimes film nowadays lack, this is a gem worth repetitive viewings and appreciation because of its astounding performances, excellent directing, intellectual screenplay and a myriad of positive matters exhibited.